The show was on Sunday May 5 in the Wauchope RSL Club. Even though the weather over summer wasn't kind to orchid growers, the society members placed 185 plants (orchids and foliage) on the show bench with a high standard of quality plants exhibited.

The Champion winners section were B& J. Lennon Grand Champion, Champion Laeliinae, Champion Oncidiinae, Champion Any Other Hybrid, Robyn Lovett Reserve Champion, Champion Vandaceous, Wayne Stephenson Champion Any Other Hybrid, Noeleen O'Donnell Champion Foliage and Champion Novice to Phillip Moore.

On the Friday night before the show members raffled some very choice orchids after the Meat Raffle at the RSL Club and the winners were very pleased with the quality of orchids that were won.

"This was a great spring board to our show on Sunday," said society president Greg Elliott.

"We were amazed at the entries that were benched with quality plants coming into the show. Visitors were very impressed with the beauty and variation of the orchids and the foliage section really outgrew itself with so many plants, new sections had to be made to accommodate the influx of plants.

"Our society has invested in giving the public a great choice of quality orchids for sale. We also have purchased many items for the accessories table which is a help to members and the public to purchase items that make growing orchids a lot easier. The succulent table outgrew itself this year and many sales were had," he added.

Mr Elliott said the Port Macquarie Botanical Art Group amazed them once again with the high quality of prints that were on display and their knowledge of how they paint their pictures is outstanding.

John Riley was also present with his high quality of prints and a great assortment of fossils, John is highly thought of in the clinical world of painting orchids exactly as they are from nature.

"We are so blessed with his attendances to our shows. When you incorporate both the Botanical Art Group and John Riley to our orchid shows it seems to blend so well and the public really get more out of the experience than just an orchid show," added Mr Elliott.

The Hastings River Orchid Society would like to thank the Wauchope RSL Club for making the area in the Club available to hold the show, and also to the Board of Directors in their faith in the society that they fully sponsor this great show.

"500 people came to our show on the day and we thank you so much and please come to our meetings which are held on the third Friday of each month, starting at 1pm in the Wauchope RSL Club, where you can become a member of the HOGGG'S Group and become better growers," he said.

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